Want a single word to sum up environmental affairs in 2014? Let’s go with “heated”. The year began with the realisation that 2013 was Australia’s hottest ever (and yes, it’s because of us), and ended with…

The Climate Change Authority has recommended that the government move back the deadline for the large-scale Renewable Energy Target by three years, from 2020 to 2023, rather than risk jeopardising investment…

If Australia’s to have nuclear power, there’ll have to be policies to support it.
flokru/Flickr3 décembre 2014

No sooner had foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop announced that Australia should take a fresh look at nuclear power than Prime Minister Tony Abbott responded that nuclear power would only be supported…

The renewable energy sector is looking a little gloomy thanks to record low investment. Is RET uncertainty to blame?
Stephan Mosel23 novembre 2014

You may have seen recent reports that Australia’s renewable energy sector is suffering. According to a Bloomberg analysis, investment in the sector in the year to September 2014 was down 70% on investment…

Protesters say the government’s planned cuts to the Renewable Energy Target will endanger Australian jobs in the sector.
AAP Image/NewZulu/Josephine Lim12 novembre 2014

Labor has walked away from negotiations with the government over changes to the Renewable Energy Target, saying the proposed cuts of almost 40% are too deep. Industry minister Ian Macfarlane says he is…

There’s been much talk about how uncertainty over the future of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) is affecting the renewable energy industry. Investment in renewable energy is at its lowest level since…

Should you be paying for big energy users?
Bill image from www.shutterstock.com4 novembre 2014

The federal government has now achieved passage of its Direct Action plan through the Senate. Some wheeling and dealing with the cross-benches was required of course – but while the government may oppose…

The government knows that solar panel subsidies are very popular with voters.
zstock/Shutterstock23 octobre 2014

Federal industry minister Ian Macfarlane has finally revealed his opening gambit on negotiations on the future of the Renewable Energy Target (RET). He and environment minister Greg Hunt have pledged to…

Up in the air: the federal government is still trying to get bipartisan support for its plan to scale back renewable energy investment.
AAP22 octobre 2014

The recent review of the Australian Renewable Energy Target has once again raised the issue of the “unreliability” of some renewable power sources such as wind and solar power. Their variability, which…

Australia does have the capacity to produce more electricity than it needs - but that’s not a reason to scale back the Renewable Energy Target.
Indigo Skies Photography/Flickr10 septembre 2014

We have 9,000 megawatts (nine big power stations equivalent) of excess capacity in electricity generation … We have more than 15% overcapacity in generation in Australia - Industry minister Ian Macfarlane…

Renewable energy is an excellent way to hedge against the impacts of climate policies.
Indigo Skies Photography/Flickr4 septembre 2014

The Australian government has just received a vitally important report to guide their decisions on the future of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET). But it’s not the RET review report of the Coalition-appointed…

The release of the Renewable Energy Target review last week is yet another indication of the disproportionate influence of the fossil fuel industry and climate sceptics on governments in Australia. Many…

Tony Abbott may have planted a few trees, but he’s also sought to bury many of Australia’s environmental safeguards.
Britta Campion/AAPImage29 août 2014

Before the 2013 election, Tony Abbott gave us fair warning that he would turn the clock back on the environment. As promised, his government has devoted itself to short-term economics and the sort of hardline…

The review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) has recommended deep cuts to the scheme. If implemented by the government, the changes could mean closing off the scheme to new large-scale wind…

If the Abbott government goes down the anti-RET path, it will be heavily driven by ideology.
AAP/Lukas Coch28 août 2014

Tony Abbott has got a heap of unwanted publicity this week as a result of his response to cantankerous Liberal senator Ian Macdonald, who upbraided him for being late to Tuesday’s Coalition parties’ meeting…